A shortage of ketchup in the US, caused by the change in consumption habits following the coronavirus pandemic, has forced the Kraft Heinz company to increase its production by 25%.
As reported by local media USA Today on Tuesday, the company has had to add production lines that will increase the final number of ketchup sachets to 12 billion in a year.
Kraft Heinz responded as follows to the information revealed Monday by the New York newspaper Wall Street Journal, which pointed out that some of the major American fast food chains, such as Long John Silver, have nearly 700 branches across the country, or The Texas Roadhouse , of more than 630 restaurants, is in short supply.
Heinz, which dominates more than 70% of the US spice market, has seen demand for ketchup packets soar since the onset of the pandemic as all the restaurants offering diners bottled tomato sauce on their establishments’ tables , had to turn to small doses to offer takeout only or home delivery.
Steve Cornell, a Kraft Heinz representative, explained that “at the start of the pandemic, the company made strategic manufacturing investments to keep pace with the demand for ketchup packets accelerated by home delivery or takeout trends.”
Adding to this, even customers who now decide to stay for dinner at restaurants are also using the envelopes, as part of the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Avoid using or sharing reusable items, such as menus, condiments, or other food packaging,” says the CDC, which calls for the use of disposable or digital menus or single servings. “